Mask Mandate Us, Quarantine Us, Social Distance Us!

Here is the world we are living in.  

I got a call from a friend the other day, their supervisor informed their office that if they were in a group of 10 or more they would be required to quarantine to stop the spread of Covid. 

So basically the tax funded agency  

they work for is saying; 

Oh you believe in Jesus and go to an active in service church? You may not go or you will be required to quarantine.  

Your kid plays ball.  Shucks watch it online or you will be required to quarantine.  

Your loved one died.  That stinks.  You can’t go the funeral or you would be required to quarantine.  

Your family drove half way across the state to see you?  Too bad, if there is 10 or more people may not go to see your family or you will be required to quarantine. 

You must go to big box stores, because the small stores will have 10 or more people too close together!  So may be required to quarantine if you shop there.  

Forget dining out unless you book the whole place to yourself and only let 9 people and the wait staff in or you may be required to quarantine.  

We keep hearing how awful it is that our Governor is not going to require a mask mandate or vaccine requirement.  

Honestly, I don’t think he will have to.  He will just let every tax funded entity make their own rules and require what they want to make other’s lives a living hell.  

The Selfishness of the Pandemic

 I saw this meme floating around social media a few weeks back.  A woman had posted “this spoke to me”...

The meme is true, some of the best teachers were virtual.  However, this does not make the case for online learning.

Until the pandemic I never realized how selfish some people really are.  They think they are making their case and maybe they are, but they are not making the case for everyone.  

Virtual learning might work for some, but a majority it does not, so don’t be a jerk and preach why we should all go virtual. 

Virtual learning causes an unnecessary hardship for lower income parents.  Sure it’s easy to hire a babysitter and tutor when you make a six digit salary, but six digit salaries are not made by the working class.  I have heard the cries of the CNA’s, ya know the ones who are feeding your grandma and grandpa, as they juggle their kids “virtual” school, bounce their kids from multiple sitters, and try like hell to not make you mad with their frustrations of school not being open.  

Virtual learning causes an unnecessary struggles for kids with special learning needs.  Sure your kid can learn multiplication from The Magic School Bus while you cut star shaped cookies and let them figure how many points you created.  However your neighbor down the street has an extra chromosome and needs their specially trained teacher to help them learn to tie their shoe daily.  Their mom really tries to fill the void, manage the Google hangout, somehow keep her boss off her back as she is now working from home, and not make you mad by venting her frustrations.  

Not everyone can afford to “self-isolate”...Oh you want the kids to quarantine so you can get a day off.  That’s special, but did you call the small business owner to see how they felt about it?  You know the one who’s business name is on your kids soccer shirt?  Sure it might be fun to take an extra day off, go hunting as self-isolation, or catch up on your soaps, but your local market owner is praying nonstop they can just keep the doors open and make a little money.  They don’t need a day off.  They can’t afford to take a day off. 

We are all not the same.  We all can’t handle this “pandemic” the same.  So don’t be a jerk and share the meme’s to prove your point, because your point is not everyone’s point. 

Jesus is our Savior

Regardless of where we live or who our leaders are, we are subject to one of two kingdoms: God’s Kingdom and Satan’s Kingdom.  

Even in China there are Christians.  Think about that.  Even in China where people are living under communism the Christian Faith is growing.  

Jesus is King over all mankind, and he is represented on earth by those who love him. 

As we Christians we must keep in mind that our allegiance is not to a political party or a particular leader, but to the King of Kings.

Regardless who our leader is, we must depend on God for our ultimate leadership.  We cannot allow who is president of the United States dictate what we do and how we believe.  

As we approach the holiday season, instead of dread what is looming in January, I beg to spread the joy of Jesus to all around.  

Instead of clicking to ship, visit your local stores and talk to the owners, they also are feeling weariness of this all.  

Instead of mailing your Christmas Cards; hand deliver them and remind your neighbors that you love them.  

Instead of purchasing pre-signed cards; write a note of love and hope so they know you care more than printed ink.  

Instead of buying the next big electronic; buy hours of quality time to generate life in our weary souls.  

President Trump and Vice President Biden are not our Saviors; Jesus is our Savior and let’s practice that belief this holiday season.  

“For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.” Psalms‬ ‭22:28‬ ‭‬‬

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭‬‬

(Photo Credit: not really sure; these are old photos I have collected of Bollinger County, Missouri.)

My Dad, My Veteran

This morning as I headed out with my husband to hang the flags at the Bollinger County Veterans Memorial, I thought about just how precious each of those names etched on the large piece of granite are. 

My Dad is an Army Veteran, unlike many of my friends, I was not around when my dad was active duty.   I never knew the feeling of my dad leaving and not knowing when he would return.  

When I was about 16 years old, I realized that even though I was not what they call an "Army Brat" the years my dad served were very important and it was then that he became that Veteran that I cherish and love.

Now twenty years later Veterans Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not because I get a day off from work, but it is a day for me to reflect and think about those Army stories that my dad would share over the dinner table when I was just a child.  

If you know my dad, you know he is a world class story teller, he can capture your attention in a matter of seconds and hold you until the very last word; not to mention he has a great voice.

When I was a child dinner time was important at our house, something major had to happen for one person not be around the dinner table, Dad was insistent on this. 

Around that kitchen table was where I learned of my Dad's military background, while he often joked that he just guarded a trash can and a light pole, there was more to the story.

He would reminiscence of those long nights away from Bollinger County, he defeated the biggest battle, the battle of being jerked away from our small community and his family, shipped to a foreign land just months after he graduated high school.  My dad like many others his age was drafted during one of the scariest times we had ever faced, the Vietnam War. 

Dad was stationed in Germany, that is where he learned a few German commands that he would often bark at the dinner table to make us laugh.  I have also seen a few pictures of him while he was in Germany, he looked much different back then.  

In more recent years, I learned that my dad went through Basic Training with several Bollinger County Men ,  he refers to them as the "Big Five".  He once admitted to me the anxiety he would feel in training when someone he knew would have to take their turn on the obstacle course, he was always afraid that one of his buddies would not make it, but they always did.  

Somewhere in the middle of those stories my Dad became one of my Hero's and it is an honor to say my dad is a Veteran. 

Today it makes my heart so full to watch him and his local VFW buddies perform Graveside Services, be present at local events, and listen to them laugh over their days in service, they have great fun sharing and remembering. 

Rather your Veteran fought the greatest battle or just guarded a trash can; they served, they worked, and they protected us!   

Honor our Veterans, hold them close to us, and remember who they are!

God Bless our Veterans, God Bless our Military, God Bless the USA! 

( This is a copy of my column from this weeks The Banner Press, please support our local paper.)

Bollinger County FREE Senior Pictures

I am offering FREE Senior Pictures this year for ANY high school senior that lives in Bollinger County or attends school in Bollinger County.  

My plan is that I will have a couple of days that I will meet seniors at a location and take their photos.  There is absolutely no cost from me, I will give them free digital access to the photos.  They will have the rights to print them and use them for whatever they need to. 

I will do multiple dates, multiple locations, and different seasons.  

This has been on my heart for a couple of years. I know this year will be different and God is calling me to use my talents more for the people of my community.  

If you are a senior and want your picture done (even if you plan to have professional photos) please complete the form here: https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7

If you are a hair dresser, another photographer, business, ect and would like to partner in this please also fill out the form and comment under section Other:  https://forms.gle/V8nCN5r5cnb34z3C7

We say Grace

Everywhere I go, everywhere I turn, I hear “there is something happening in the community, what is it?”  Well, We say Grace, is what is happening.

This past weekend I made a trip to the Patton Saddle Club for the Patton Lions Club’s Cheese Fries and the fast lawnmowers of the Patton Lawnmower Racing.  It’s a family event and a local favorite for my family.

While I might have only been there for cheese fries and fast lawnmowers, it was a touching event, not only because they honored a Bollinger County Champion, Bill Fulton, but because they practiced the American traditions that many of us hold close to heart.

Just moments before the racers took the track the crowd stood and a local young lady sang the beautiful lyrics to our National Anthem, it was enough to bring tears to your eyes as you stared at the flag above the race track.   Then we all bowed our heads and prayed for the racers, the community, and thanked God for the opportunities he gives us.  We said Grace.

In the past four years as a community leader and active citizen of the community I have watched a change not just in the structures of our community, but the people in our community.

I have seen a shift in the activism in our community, I have seen community members step up and step out to do great things out of the love for our county and our residents.  I have seen our local athletes make the brave act of taking a knee before a game and praying God’s blessings over their team and their opponents.  I have seen students choose church over parties and God over lust.  I have seen community leaders, elected officials, and community events pause and pray together before they begin.

These are the changes happening in our community.  This is where the good is coming from.

Some may say this is a new wave, some may say this is a step back to the 1950’s, but I say this is what happens when We say Grace.

(This is a copy of this week’s column that I write The Banner Press, I encourage you to support our local paper)

I

Zero Self-Confidence

If I told you I had zero self-confidence you would probably call me a liar.

For years I spent a good portion of my time making sure I had enough retweets, comments, and brand marketing to hold my status on social media – this was not fake, this was part of my job.  During that time I also declared that one day we would need therapy of some sort to deal with social media

addictions and the unsettling emotional affects (drama) that social media brings.  As I scroll through my newsfeed today, I can tell you that “need” for therapy is well past and we have major problems amplified by social media.

In 2012 I hit my lowest point ever – many know, some can assume.   In 2013, I went back on my “promise” to never move home and loaded my Dad’s truck with all my personal belongings and moved home to live in my parent’s basement.  I totally marketed this period of time as “my choice” but in reality it was the only place I had left to go.   Between 2012 and the end 2014 we could say it was a growing period, I would like to say it was the crash of what happens when you discover “you are just not that important to those you are trying to please.”  In 2015, I realized I was hugely important to my heavenly father and instead of trying to please man and woman, I started trying to please him.

It is 2020, I have zero self-confidence, but I have 100% God Confidence.  I am not brought here to please every man, woman, or child.  It does not matter if you read my post or scroll past and ignore me.  It does not matter the number of likes on my post.  It does not matter if I have dinner with president or dinner with the homeless man while sitting on the curb of the McDonalds.  Those things are just not that important.

It does matter that I am living and doing God’s Work – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.  It matters so much that when I devote every moment of my day to God’s work I don’t notice how unequal I am to the world around me.  When I am so dug down in studying God’s word and doing his work, I don’t notice my gray hairs, my extra pounds, my unpainted toe nails, and my mismatched clothes.  I do notice that feeling that I am important, I am loved, and I can accomplish great things.

Give up on Self Confidence.  Desire God’s Confidence.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬